His character Ricky may be Awkward's biggest player, but in real-life, Matthew's kind of a love genius. He'll get you through life's most cringe-worthy dating moments!

Seventeen: Ricky redeemed himself at the end of season one. Is he going to stay on the right path next season or will he screw up again?

Matthew Fahey: Everything's good at the moment, but you never know what Ricky has up his sleeve. He tends to screw up a lot, so you'll have to just watch and see!

17: Do you relate to Ricky at all?

MF: We're opposites. I've never been one to date a bunch of different girls. I've never played a girl like he has on the show. But one thing I do have in common with Ricky is that we're both nerds. I love video games, comic books, and collecting baseball cards.

More From Seventeen

17: Are you better with girls in real life than Ricky is on the show?

MF: I'm more respectful to girls!

17: The show is all about surviving awkward moments, so hopefully you can help us solve some sticky dating situations: First off, do you have any tips for avoiding awkward moments on a first date?

MF: I've definitely been on some awkward first dates! One tip is to have topics to talk about. Don't write them down or anything--that would be cheesy--but know them in your mind. And ask questions! Don't try and impress your date with everything you say or he'll know you're trying too hard. Just be yourself and you'll feel more comfortable. After that, everything will flow smoothly.

17: Are there any first-date activities people should avoid because they're just too awkward?

MF: Scary movies can definitely be awkward. They can get too gory and that doesn't exactly set the mood for making a move. Unless you want to pretend you're scared so you can grab your date's hand. That could work!

17: Even people who have been together for a while can have awkward dating moments. What should a girl do when a guy won't DTR (define the relationship)?

MF: When a guy won't make a relationship official, it can mean one of two things: He could be a Ricky Schwartz and just not want to, or he could be waiting for you to do it first. If you've been dating someone long enough and you want to define things, just tell him!

MF: I'm pretty cool with my exes, but this can be an awkward situation if you see them right after a breakup or you broke up in a bad way. It's cool to be friends with your ex, but you don't need to be. Just be cordial. That makes everything less awkward. If you run into your ex at a party, say hello and then go do your thing.

17: What should a girl do if she runs into a guy she went out with who never called her back?

MF: If a guy acts like Ricky Schwartz and doesn't have the decency to call you back after a date, just move on. He's a jerk and should have the kahunas to tell you he's not into you.

17: Do you have any other words of wisdom when it comes to dating?

MF: Remember that guys are just as nervous as you are. A guy doesn't want to go up to a girl who is with all her friends and ask for her number--what if they all laugh? If a guy goes back to his group of friends without her phone number, then he gets burned. Guys like it when girls ask for their number.

Watch all sorts of awkward dating moments go down every Thursday (starting June 28th) at 10:30 P.M. ET/PT on MTV.